My plan is to remove all the sheetmetal on the front end, and have the fenderwells, the cores support, batter tray, other braces, etc, all blasted and powder coated. I will also strip all the undercoat off my frame and repaint it, while I want to repaint my firewall. I figure with the engine and trans out, now is the time to detail the engine compartment.

If anyone can offer any advice on this job please chime in. I am hoping I can get it all back together and aligned decently when it comes time.

Not exactly the same, but when taking my '79 Tbird apart, that was the approximate order. The fenders and inner fenders would be the same. It would be easier to take the fenders off to get to the inner fenders, although I don't think it's impossible to remove the inner fenders without removing the fenders, from what I've heard.

Thanks Jeff, this is helpful. So you removed the outer fenders and left the inner's in place? I wasn't sure if it was better to remove both the inner and outer as one piece or do it separately?

From doing some searches here, it seems some say the best way is to remove the lower valance, then the front bumper and brackets as one unit. I found the diagrams for the '72 front end and MAN are there a lot of parts.

Russ, I do have some detailed parts catalog diagrams that show how all the parts go together. It's on a locked PDF so I can't screen shot it to post here. When I have a chance to print it off and scan it I will add it to this thread.

John, thanks for the info. I already have the service manuals, unfortunately it doesn't really get into disassembly detail. I just know people in the past here have gone on about how complicated the '72 front end is, so I just want to be prepared and do it right.

So I have had sometime to work on the car this weekend. It wasn't as bad as I though it'd be. My order of disassembly is as follows:

Jack up the front end of the car nice and high

Remove valance from below.

Remove front bumper, you can easily access the frame to bumper bracket bolt from below. I also removed the hood latch and hood latch support at this time. You will also need to disconnect the parking lights to feet the wiring out of the brackets. There are connectors near the battery (left) and the horns (right). Of note, you do not need to remove the "boomerang" shaped bumper brace when you remove the bumper with the brackets.

Remove the grille.

Remove the grill surround and reveal molding

Remove the header panel and fender extensions. The fender extensions aren't too bad to get at if you access them from below. There is a way more room once the bumper is off.

Remove the headlight buckets.

This will completely remove all the front end sheetmetal. It looks like now I only have to remove the outer fenders, the inner fender and then the rad support (which I will do once I find some space to store that stuff).

Good, that it turned out so well!!!I am too planning to start disassembly of the front clip on my car. Goals are the same as Yours-replace the engine, check/repair the transmission, paint front part of the frame, repair and paint inner fenders and core support, the only thing, that's different is the condition of Your car.Will follow the progress with Your car!

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